Inductive power supply system

ABSTRACT

A power supplying device is provided for providing electrical power to a power receiving device, the power supplying device comprising two plates, two electrode structures being arranged to be coupled to an AC power source and at least one power transmitter. Each electrode structure is attached to one of said two plates. The power transmitter is situated in between the two plates and comprises an electrically conductive coil and at least two electrical contacts coupled to the electrically conductive coil. The plates and the power transmitter are arranged such that the power transmitter is movable in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the plates with the electrical contacts in contact with the respective two electrode structures for obtaining power from the AC power source.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a power supplying device for providingelectrical power to a power receiving device, the power supplying devicecomprising two plates, at least one power transmitter situated inbetween the two plates and comprising an electrically conductive coilcoupled to an AC power source for obtaining power therefrom, the platesand the power transmitter being arranged such that the power transmitteris movable in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the plates.

This invention further relates to a power receiving device forcooperation with the power supplying device according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a power consuming system, comprising boththe power supplying device and the power receiving device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a power supplying device is, e.g., known from the United Statespatent application US 2007/0182367 A1. Said patent application describesa portable inductive power device for charging battery operatedelectronic devices. The power device uses a pad with an array of coilsand an AC power source to create an alternating magnetic field. Thealternating magnetic field is used for charging the electronic devicelying on the pad, close to the AC powered coils. In an embodiment (FIG.16), each coil in the array has its own little segment within which itis free to move laterally. Thus, this embodiment may be considered touse an array of fixed coil segments instead of an array of fixed coils.The coils may comprise a permanent magnet for controlling the lateralmovements.

One of the problems of this known power supplying device is that itneeds a lot of coils and corresponding driving electronics. Each coil isconnected to a power source with a wire, which restricts the freedom ofmovement for the coil and limits the possibilities to use multiple coilsin combination. These problems make the known device less suitable foruse in large area applications. For a charging apparatus for portableelectronic devices, the area size may not be very important, but forother applications scalability may be an important aspect. For example,a table or wall surface capable of supplying power to a freely movablelamp may be quite large. When applying the known technology to an entirewall, a lot of coils and additional electronics are required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved byproviding a power supplying device for providing electrical power to apower receiving device, the power supplying device comprising twoplates, two electrode structures being arranged to be coupled to an ACpower source and at least one power transmitter. Each electrodestructure is attached to one of said two plates. The power transmitteris situated in between the two plates and comprises an electricallyconductive coil and at least two electrical contacts coupled to theelectrically conductive coil. The plates and the power transmitter arearranged such that the power transmitter is movable in a directionparallel to the surfaces of the plates with the electrical contacts incontact with the respective two electrode structures for obtaining powerfrom the AC power source.

In the power supplying device according to the invention, the plateshave two important functions. First, the plates define the freedom ofmovement for the coil, such that the coil is free to move (in twodimensions) within a gap between the two plates. Additionally, theplates provide the electrical coupling between the coil and the powersource. When the power transmitter moves through the gap between theplates, the electrical contacts slide along and keep in contact with theelectrode structures. As a result, the inductive coil is powered by theAC source independently of the position of the coil. No additionalelectronics are needed for finding out the exact position of the coiland the coil does not have to be coupled to the AC source by a wirewhich may become entangled when the coil moves through the gap.

In an embodiment of the power supplying device according to theinvention, each one of the two plates comprises a respective one of thetwo electrode structures, said two electrode structures facing eachother.

In this embodiment, one of the electrical contacts of the powertransmitter will be in contact with the electrode structure of the topplate and another electrical contact of the power transmitter will be incontact with the electrode structure of the bottom plate. The respectiveelectrode structures are coupled to different terminals of the AC powersource. The electrode structures may be conductive layers covering largeparts of the plate surfaces.

In a different embodiment, both electrode structures are attached to thesame one of the two plates, the two electrode structures beingelectrically separated. Hence, only one of the plates needs conductivematerial. The terminals of the AC power source are coupled to therespective electrode structures. In this embodiment it is important thatthe electrical contacts of the power transmitter are arranged such that,independently of the position of the power transmitter relative to theplates, one electrical contact cannot contact both electrode structuresat once, which would lead to short circuiting. It is also important thatin many positions (not necessarily all positions) of the powertransmitter, the electrical contacts are situated such that the coil iscoupled to both electrode structures in order to enable the AC power tobe provided to the coil.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a power receiving deviceis provided for cooperation with a power supplying device as describedabove, the power receiving device comprising at least one power receiverwith an electrically conductive coil. When such a power receiving deviceis placed on or close to the power supplying device, the electricallyconductive coil uses the alternating magnetic field produced by thepower supplying to pick up power. The picked up power is then used topower the power receiving device. By moving the power supplying deviceto a different position, also the power receiving device can berepositioned. As a result it becomes possible to position the powerreceiving device on any desired position of, e.g., a desk or a wall,without requiring any wiring or rewiring. The power receiving device maybe any type of electronic device, such as a battery powered portableelectronic device to be charged by the power supplying device accordingto the invention, a lamp or a computer display.

In a preferred embodiment of the power supplying device according to theinvention, the power transmitter further comprises a ferromagneticmaterial. When the power receiving device also comprises a ferromagneticmaterial (e.g. in the inductive coil) and either the power transmitteror the power supplying device are magnetic, the power receiving devicecan be used for pulling the power transmitter through the gap. In anembodiment of the power supplying device according to the invention, thepower transmitter has one or more ‘default positions’ in the powersupplying device. When the power supply is not used, the powertransmitter returns to the default position. This return may, e.g., berealized mechanically, using gravity or using electronics. At thesedefault positions, the power receiving device may be used tomagnetically pick up the power transmitter and to pull the powertransmitter towards the desired position.

In an embodiment of the power supplying device according to theinvention, at least one of the plates is at least partially transparent.In such an embodiment the power transmitter does not need a defaultposition, because its position can be observed through the plate. Theuser can thus easily place the power receiving device on top of thepower transmitter. If the at least partially transparent layer comprisesan electrode structure, an at least partially transparent conductivematerial may be used for said electrode structure such that the powertransmitter is not obscured by the electrode structure. Indium tin oxide(ITO) or zinc oxide (ZnO) may be suitable transparent conductivematerials for this purpose.

In another embodiment of the power supplying device according to theinvention, at least one of the plates comprises a transmitter positionindicator for indicating a position of the power transmitter relative tosaid at least one of the plates. For example, LEDs on the plate surfacemay indicate where the transmitter coil is to be found. If the plate istransparent, the position indicating LED may also be provided on thepower transmitter. When the LED is part of the power transmitter, onlyone LED is required. Alternatively, a small display screen may beprovided for showing a representation of the plate surface and theposition of the power transmitter.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a power consuming systemis provided, comprising a power supplying device and a power receivingdevice as described above.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will beelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a system according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the system shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the part of the system shown in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4a and 4b show two cross sections of a power supplying device withslotted conductive layers,

FIG. 5 shows a power supplying device with a position indicator,

FIG. 6 shows a display screen for indicating a position of the powertransmitter,

FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a power supplying device with guidedmovable power transmitters,

FIG. 8 schematically shows a grid layout that may be used in a powersupplying device in which only one plate comprises a conductive layer,and

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a lighting system taking advantage of the currentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 schematically shows a system 10 according to the invention. Thesystem 10 comprises a power supplier 20 for wirelessly supplyingelectrical power to a lamp 30. The power supplier 20 comprises a powertransmitter 21, which is coupled to an AC source (not shown) forinductively providing power to the lamp 30. The lamp 30 comprises apower receiver 31 for receiving the power provided by the powertransmitter 21 and for making the lamp 30 shine.

The power transmitter 21 is located in a gap formed by two substantiallyparallel plates and can be moved in two directions through this gap. Inthis figure, a repositioning of the power transmitter 21 is indicated byan arrow 11. When the power transmitter 21 is positioned close enough tothe power receiver 31 of the lamp 30, it is possible to conductivelytransmit power from the power supplier 20 to the lamp 30. When the lamp30 is moved (indicated by arrow 12) to another position and the powertransmitter 21 is moved (arrow 11) close to the new position of the lamp30, the lamp 30 will keep on receiving electrical power from this powertransmitter 21. Consequently, it is not necessary to provide the powersupplier 20 with an array of power transmitters at different positionsin order to be able to power the lamp 30 at these different positions.

It is to be noted that the lamp 30 is only used as an exemplary powerreceiving device. The system 10 may also be used for powering otherelectronic devices like notebook PCs, speakers, PC monitors or chargersfor batteries or battery powered electronic devices like mobile phones.The power supplier 20 may be a separate power supplying unit, but mayalso be integrated in, e.g., a desk or tabletop. It is also possible tointegrate the power supplier 20 in a wall.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the system 10 shown in FIG. 1. The close-upshown in FIG. 2 zooms in on the area 200 indicated by a dotted rectanglein FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 it is shown that the power supplier 20 comprisestwo substantially parallel plates 22, each having a conductive layer 23functioning as an electrode for coupling the power transmitter 21 to theAC source. As will be elucidated below with reference to FIG. 8, thesystem 10 may also function with only one of the plates 22 having aconductive layer 23. The plates 22 may either by opaque or (partially orcompletely) transparent. The material(s) used for the plates 22 shouldhave a relative permeability close to 1, in order to make it possiblefor the magnetic field generated by the power transmitter 21 topenetrate through the plate 22 and reach the power receiver 31. Suitablematerials for the plates 22 are, e.g., wood, glass orpolymethylmethacrylate (plexiglass). Suitable materials for theconductive layers 23 are, e.g., Aluminum or copper. It is an option touse only a conductive layer 23, without a non-conductive plate 22. Thatwould however limit the applied voltages, because a human may touch thevoltage carrying conductive layer 23.

Together, the two plates 22 define a gap 24 in which the powertransmitter 21 is provided and through which the power transmitter 21can be moved. The power transmitter comprises an electrically conductivecoil 28 which produces an alternating magnetic field when coupled to anAC power source. The coil 28 is electrically coupled to the conductivelayers 23 via sliding contacts 25. The sliding contacts 25 shown in FIG.2 comprise an electrically conductive tip 27 for contacting theconductive plate 23 and an optional spring element 26 for ensuring astable contact between the conductive tip 27 and the conductive layer23. The spring elements 26 provide stability with respect to externalmechanical impacts and when the power transmitter 21 is moved throughthe gap 24. Alternatively, the electrical coupling of the coil 28 to theconductive layer may be realized using rolling contacts (e.g.electrically conductive wheels).

The conductive layers 23 of the power supplier 20 are coupled to the ACpower source (not shown). When an AC current runs through the coil 28,an alternating magnetic field is created. This alternating magneticfield induces an electrical current in a second electrically conductivecoil 38 in the power receiver 31 of the power receiving device 30. Thisinduced electrical current may be used for powering the power receivingdevice 30. The power transfer thus obtained is most efficient, when thereceiver coil 38 is closest to the transmitter coil 28, therebymaximizing the electromagnetic coupling. Good alignment of the two coils28, 38 may be obtained using two pieces of ferromagnetic material 29, 39of which at least one is permanently magnetic. When not too far awayfrom each other, the attracting magnetic force between these two piecesof ferromagnetic material 29, 39 will pull the power transmitter 21 inthe direction of the power receiver 31, such that the pieces offerromagnetic material 29, 39 are situated even closer together. Thealignment of the pieces of ferromagnetic material 29, 39 also results inalignment of the transmitter coil 28 and the receiver coil 38, therebyoptimizing the efficiency of the power transfer.

The moving of the power transmitter 21 through the gap 24 may berealized in many different ways. The position of the power transmitter21 may, e.g., be adjustable via electronic or mechanical means.Preferably, the positions of the power transmitter 21 and the powerreceiving device are magnetically coupled and the power transmitter 21is slid through the gap 24 by sliding the power receiving device 30 overthe surface of the plate 22. In many or all possible positions of thepower transmitter 21 relative to the plates 22, the sliding contacts 25are in contact with the conductive plates 23, such that the transmittercoil 28 can be coupled to the AC source. Optionally, in at least oneposition of the power transmitter 21 the sliding contacts 25 are not incontact with the conductive layer 23. In such a position, the powertransmitter does not consume power and the power receiving device 30 isturned off (or at least not powered by the power supplier).

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the part of the system 10 shown in FIG.2. This cross section gives a top view of the power transmitter 21 atthe height of dotted line AB in FIG. 2. In this top view, the slidingcontacts 25, the transmitter coil 38 and the piece of ferromagneticmaterial 29 are visible.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show two cross sections of a power supplying device 20with slotted conductive layers 43. FIG. 4a shows a side view, while FIG.4b shows a top view of the same power supplying device 20. In FIG. 4a alot of features already described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2are shown. Additionally, FIG. 4a shows an AC power source 41 which iscoupled to the conductive layer 43. Instead of an uninterruptedconductive layer, this embodiment uses a slotted conductive layer 43with strips 43 of conductive material, separated by small slots 44without conductive material. The effect of these slots 44 is to reduceeddy currents which are induced by the magnetic field of the transmittercoil in conductive layer 43. Eddy currents lead to increased losses anda reduction of the effective transmitter-receiver coil coupling. Theconductive strips 43 are connected in parallel at a border of the plate22 and coupled to the power source 41. The influence of the slots 44 onthe electrical resistance for feeding the transmitter coil 28 isnegligible. An alternative or additional measure for a more efficientpassage of the magnetic field through the conductive layer is the use ofa very thin conductive layer. For obtaining a thin conductive layer,vacuum deposition or sputtering may be used.

FIG. 5 shows a power supplying device with a position indicator 51. Whenplacing the lamp 30 on the surface of the plate 22, it is important toknow where the power transmitter 21 is to be found. The lamp 30 willonly receive power from the power transmitter 21 when placed on theplate 22, close to the power transmitter 21. Also when the user has tomove the power transmitter 21 to a desired position, it is important tobe able to know the current position of the power transmitter. If boththe plate 22 and the conductive layer 23 are transparent, it is easy tosee the position of the power transmitter 21. Indium tin oxide (ITO) andzinc oxide (ZnO) are examples of suitable materials for use in atransparent conductive layer. If either the plate 22 or the conductivelayer 23 is not transparent, some kind of position indicating means areneeded. For example, the power transmitter 21 may be equipped with a LED51 or other type of light source which is able to emit light through theconductive layer 23 and the plate 22. Alternatively, position indicatingLEDs on the plate surface may show the position of the powertransmitter. Position detecting means may be provided for determiningthe position of the power transmitter 21 relative to the plates 22. Whenthe position of the power transmitter 21 is known, a corresponding LEDon the plate surface may be turned on.

Alternatively, the position of the power transmitter 21 is shown on aseparate display screen 61. FIG. 6 shows a display screen 61 forindicating a position of the power transmitter 21. The display screen 61may be integrated in the desktop surface or wall with the power supplier20, but it may also be provided as a separate unit. The display screenpreferably shows the positions of the power transmitter 21 and the powerreceiving device 30 in order to make it easier to bring these unitstogether. When relocating the power transmitter 21 or the powerreceiving device 30, the display screen 61 can be used for determiningwhere to put them.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a power supplying device 30 with guidedmovable power transmitters 21. In many applications, it will bedesirable to allow the power transmitter 21 to move freely in twodimensions. However, for esthetic or practical reasons, it may also bedesirable to limit the freedom of movement for the power transmitter 21(and thus also for the power receiving device 30). The power supplier 20shown in FIG. 7 comprises guiding means 71, 72 for limiting the freedomof movement of the power transmitters 21.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a grid layout that may be used in a powersupplying device 20 in which only one plate 22 comprises a conductivelayer 23. For supplying an AC voltage to the transmitter coil 28 of thepower transmitter 21, two sliding contacts 25 of the power transmitter21 must be coupled to different terminals of the AC power source 41. Theeasiest way to do so is to use a two plates configuration as describedabove in which an electrical contact 25 at one side of the powertransmitter 21 is in contact with a first conductive layer 23 on a firstplate 22 and a second electrical contact 25 on the opposite site of thepower transmitter 21 is in contact with a second conductive layer 23 ona second plate 22. With the grid layout shown in FIG. 8, it is alsopossible to use only one conductive layer 23. The conductive layer 23comprises two electrically separated electrode structure 81, 82. Eachelectrode 81, 82 is coupled to one of the terminals of the AC powersource 41. In this embodiment, the power transmitter 21 has threesliding contacts 25 at the side facing the conductive layer 23. Thecontacts 25 are smaller than the space between the two electrodes 81, 82to avoid the risk of one contact 25 short circuiting both electrodes 81,82. Additionally, the arrangement of the three sliding contacts 25 onthe power transmitter 21 is such that irrespective of the orientation ofthe power transmitter, always one or two contacts 25 are in contact witheach one of the electrodes 81, 82.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a lighting system 10 taking advantage of the currentinvention. The power supplier 20 of the system 10 of FIGS. 9 and 10 maybe attached to a wall or may form a wall itself. The power supplier 20may either use a two plates configuration as shown in FIG. 1, 2, 4 or 5or a one layer conductive grid layout as shown in FIG. 8. The lightingsystem 10 comprises one or more lamps 30 which can be attached to thewall. The lamp 30 may, e.g., be attached to the wall using magneticforces between a magnet in the lamp 30 and ferromagnetic material of theconductive layer 23 and or between a magnet in the lamp 30 andferromagnetic material in a power transmitter 21 coupled to the lamp 30.In this embodiment, not the whole surface of the power supplier 20 iscovered with a conductive layer 23. At the bottom, a power free zone 91is provided where no conductive layer 23 is present. When the powertransmitter 21 is in this power free zone, it is not coupled to the ACpower source and will not consume any power. When a lamp 30 is to beattached to the wall, the user picks up a power transmitter 21 in thepower free zone 91. When the lamp 30 is slid over the wall surface, thepower transmitter 21 will follow the lamp 30, e.g. due to magneticforces. When the sliding contacts 25 of the power transmitter 21 reachthe conductive layer 23, the transmitter coil 28 is coupled to the powersource and the lamp 30 will receive the transmitted power and can beturned on. The lamp 30 may be placed at every position on the wall wherethe conductive layer 23 is present. When the lamp 30 is removed from thewall, the power transmitter 21 will fall down towards the power freezone 91. It is an advantage of this embodiment that it saves energy bydecoupling the transmitter coil 28 from the conductive layer 23 when thepower transmitter 21 is not used.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the wall system 10 of FIG. 9. Herethe system 10 comprises multiple, e.g. six, power transmitters 21. Arail or slope 92 is provided in the power free zone 91. This slope 92leads power transmitters 21 falling down to the power free zone 91towards one of the corners of the systems 10. This corner functions as astandard pick up point for power transmitters 21. Also when the surfaceof the power supplier 20 is opaque and the power transmitters 21 are notvisible, the user knows that a power transmitter 21 can be picked up atthe standard pick up point. When a first lamp 30 is used to pick up afirst power transmitter 21, the next power transmitter 21 will roll downto the standard pick up point.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustraterather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art willbe able to design many alternative embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signsplaced between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude thepresence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Thearticle “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presenceof a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented bymeans of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means ofa suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating severalmeans, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same itemof hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutuallydifferent dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of thesemeasures cannot be used to advantage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power receiving device, comprising at least onepower receiver that includes an electrically conductive coil forobtaining electrical power from a power supplying device, the powersupplying device comprising: two plates; and at least one powertransmitter situated in between the two plates and comprising anelectrically conductive coil, the plates and the power transmitter beingarranged such that the power transmitter is movable in a directionparallel to the surfaces of the plates, wherein two electrode structuresare arranged to be coupled to an AC power source, each electrodestructure being attached to one of said two plates, at least twoelectrical contacts being coupled to the electrically conductive coil,the electrical contacts being in contact with the respective twoelectrode structures for obtaining power from the AC power source.
 2. Apower consuming system, comprising: a power supplying device comprising:two plates; and at least one power transmitter situated in between thetwo plates and comprising an electrically conductive coil, the platesand the power transmitter being arranged such that the power transmitteris movable in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the plates,wherein two electrode structures are arranged to be coupled to an ACpower source, each electrode structure being attached to one of said twoplates, at least two electrical contacts being coupled to theelectrically conductive coil, the electrical contacts being in contactwith the respective two electrode structures for obtaining power fromthe AC power source; and a power receiving device that includes anelectrically conductive coil for obtaining electrical power from thepower supplying device.